hereon



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. HERRON.

APPARATUS FOR DRBDGINGHARBORS, D'ITGHING SWAMPS, 8w.

Patented Oct. 3, 1.882.

WITNESSES .d ttorney N. qzrzns. PholmLiihogr-lplmr, Washington. D. C.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. P. HERRON.

APPARATUS FOR DRBDGING HARBORS, DITGHING SWAMPS, &c.

, iatented Oct. 3, 1882..

N. PETERS. Pbflhrlllhngnplmr. Washmglum 0.0.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. P. HERRON.

APPARATUS FOR DREDGING HARBORS, DI TGHING SWAMPS, &c.

No. 265,500. Patented 0c1;.8 1882 N, PETERS. Fholn-LumngmphenWaslunglon, n. c

(No Model 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. P. HERRON.

APPARATUS FOR DRBDGING HARBORS, DITGHING SWAMPS, &c. No. 265,500.Patented 0015.3, 1882.

Baez/ Z202 w. PETERS. pnmumu mmr. Washmgim n. c.

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5'.

J. P. HERRON.

APPARATUS FOR .DREDGING HARBORS; DITGHING SWAMPS, &0.

WIIJVESSES 5 @fl/M N. PETERS. Phumunw m hu. Washmglun. ac.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT rrrcec.

JAMES P. HERRON, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR DREDGING HARBORS, DITCHING SWAMPS, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,500,- dated October3, 1882.

Application filed July 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES P. HERRON, of\Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented a certain new andimproved dredging, excavating, and conducting apparatus for reclaimingharbors, water-channels, and swamp and ovcrflowed land, which denominatea lteclaimer, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

specification, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevationof the reclaimer. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same enlarged, theboat being almost entirely omitted. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Figs. 5and 6 are views showing the arrangement of the propellers in thepump-tube. Fig. 7 is a view of the excavating-tool. Figs. 8 and 9 areviews of the devices which operate to move the turntable. Fig. 10 is aview of a boring and sawing tool which may be used in place of the toolshown in Fig. 7 when desired. Fig. 11 is a view showing particularly theconstruction of an ankled joint between a leg-like pumptube andfoot-tube, which carries the excavating-tool.

Similar letters of reference in the several tigures indicate the sameparts of the reclaimer.

The object of myinvemion is to provide improved means for dredgingupmud, sand, gravel, and other material from the bottom of rivers andother bodies of water; for excavating canals, ditches, &c.; for buildingsea-walls and dikes, and for reclaiming water-channels and sunken andoverflowed swamp-lands, See.

The invention consists, first, in a novel excavating tool or bit fordisengaging or loosening and taking in the material to he removed by thereclaimer.

It consists, second, in a pump of novel construction for elevating andcarrying off the material after being so loosened by the tool.

It consists, third, in an improved manner of rotating theexcavating-tool from the shaft of the pump.

It consists, fourth, in a. mechanism for imparting to theexcavating-tool a forward-andbackward motion.

It consists, fifth, in mechanism for automatically movingand adjustingthe excavating-tool laterally.

It consists, sixth, in supporting the excavating-tool so that it willhang in substantially the same plane during all its movements.

It consists, seventh, in improved means for keeping the boat on whichthe apparatus is mounted at the proper height from the bottom during therise and fall of tides.

It consists, eighth, in certain details of construction and combinationof parts for taking up material and conducting it continuously to placeof discharge, which will he hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings of the reclainn-r, A represents the boat carrying theexcavating apparatus and an engine, B, for driving and operating thesame.

Mounted upon the forward end of the boa is a frame-work, '0, of suitableconstruction, that may be made to rise and lower, which serves to holdand support a rotating frame or turn-table, D. From the upper part ofthe turn-table D is suspended by trunnions E E a long pump-tube, F, thesame being hung so as to permitof its being swung outward or inward andof being oscillated from side to side, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

To the lower end of the pump-tube is connected by a flexible jointedconnection a short foot-tube, G, consisting of the neck 9 and the hollowcollar-block g. This foot-tube carries at its outer end anexcavating-tool, shown in the present form of the device as a conoidaldiverging flanged bit, H. The pumptube is formed with a number ofenlargements, my preferred form being that of the swells 1, in each ofwhich works a single elevating screw-section or spiral propeller, J, asshown in Figs. 3, 5, and (i. The diameter of each of the enlargements,as proportioned to the diameter of the pump-tube, is about as one andonehalf to one and seven-eighths is to one-that is tcrsay,twhen the bodyof the pump-tube is made twelve inches in diameter the enlargements arepreferably made about eighteen to twenty-three inches in diameter. Thisdifferpellcrs about three hundred fifty to four hundred revolutions perminute an unbroken column of flowing material will be conducted at avelocity of from eighteen to twenty-five feet per second. This gives afull, active flow through the leading pipes conducting the same from onepropeller to another, and also enabling larger solid bodies to passthrough the pump-tube and not be impeded at all in passing through thepropeller. All the propellers may be fixed on a single shaft-connectionextending from top tobottom of the pump tube, if desired; or I mayemploy a series of short shafts or shaft-sections, K, and attach apropeller securely onto one end of each shaft-- section and form theother end of the shaftsection square, so as to tit within acorresponding square socket in the first-mentioned end of the nextadjacent section or end ofthe propeller, each section being formed witha-bearing for its support upon the abutments, as hereinafter described,and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this way motion imparted to eithershaft-section is communicated to all the others throughout the series,and in case of damage to or breakage of anyone of the propellers it canalone be removed without taking out all the others, and in the same waybe replaced. In my preferred construction I place at the lower end ofeach enlargement or swell an abutment or ott'set, L, on which the lowerend of the propeller has a bearing. This construction is for the purposeof relieving the shaftseetions from strain when the propellers arelifting the water and excavated material through the pump-tube, andcausing said strain to be borne by the pump-tube itself. Eachenlargement may be made in two parts, one consisting of the main body ofthe pump-tube and the other of a removable part or cap adapted to besecured by bolts, as shown. Access can be had to the propeller at anytime by taking off the cap or removable parts of the enlargements, aswill be readily understood.

The propellers consist of metallicplatestwisted into the form of aspiral, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plates being of such width lessthan the radius of the outer margin of the spiral as to leave an openand unobstructed space at the axis of it. The shaft upon which thisspiral revolves is attached one part at one end, the other at the otherend, of the spiral; orit may be twisted to follow continuously the innermargin of the spiral plate to strengthen the same. This leaving theaxial region ofthe spiral open and unobstructed, together withsntlicient pitch given to the spiral, enables large masses ofsoilorstone tobe passed through the pump. Further, the spiral is so formedthat in the vertical plane of every radius the outer margin is higherthan the inside, so giving to the spiral a dishing toward thcaxis. Thiscauses the material elevated alwaystoseek the center or axis of thecolumn. The spirals are of greatest diameter midwaybetwcen their ends,tapering thence toward each end, so as to conform to the shape of theenlargements I;

or they may be made with but one hollow spiral turn or regular twist totill a cylinder of about equal length and diameter, and with no taperingtoward the ends, but of an equal diameter and regular pitching turn andwith an open center and a shaft starting therefrom. The lowest shaft orpropeller section projects through the bottom of the pump-tube, and isprovided with a worm-gear or screw power, M, which meshes into theperiphery of and drives a bevel-gear wheel, N, which in turn imparts aboring rotation to the tube G, carrying the excavating-tool. This iseffected through the medium of a gear, 0, secured to said tube, as shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

There isone advantage in employing a continuous propeller-shaft insteadof a shaft conr posed of several sections-namely, the weight of thematerial lifted by the propellers and borne by the shaft is largelysupported by the worm upon the worm-gear in the driving of theexcavating'tool, and is to that extent taken ott' the abutments, therebyavoiding a large amount of friction at those points.

Propeller-slmfts in sections above may be adjusted to the lower section,so as to communicate all downward weight of each to the lower one, andby it to the wheel N, thereby similarly avoiding retarding friction. Theuppermost shaftsection of the series also projects through thepump-tube, and is connected by a universal-joint coupling to a shortshaft,- P, having its bearings in an arm or bracket, Q, of theframe-work O, as shown in Figs.2 and I).

' Secured to the shaft 1 is a beveled pinion, It, with which meshes alarge driving beveled gear, S, mounted upon a shaft, '1, whichisjournaled in bearings on the top of the-stationary frame-work C, andis adriven by suitable belting and pulleys from the engine B. Alsosecured to the shaft P, above the beveled pinion, is a pinion, U, whichmeshes with a larger spur-gear,V, securedto the upper end ota verticalshaft, \V, journaled in hearings on the movable turn-table, as shown inFig. 3. On the lower end of the shaft W is secured ,a beveled pinion,.L, which meshes with a beveled gear, Y, fixed to a short horizontalshaft, Z.

Secured to the inner end of theshaft Z is a crank, Z, the wrist of whichis adapted to play back and forth in a cam-slot in an angular K- shapedarm, Y, secured to the pumptube, and when the said crank is rotated thisimparts to thepump-tube a forwardand-backward swinging motion. Anantifriction sleeve is preferablymounted on the crank-wrist to reducethe friction in its revolutions in the cam-slot. The cam'slot'in the armY is formed, substantially as shown, so as, upon revolution of thedrivingspurVin the direction ofthe arrow, to cause the pump tube to beswung slowly forward and held stationary at the limit of its forwardmovement for about one-fourth of the time occupied by the arm inperforming its circuit, to give an opportunity for the more effectiveoperation of the excavatingtool at that point, and, on the other hand,to cause a more rapid backward movement of the pump-tube, while theexcavatingtool is not required to do so much operation.

For the purpose of maintaining the excavating tool or hit insubstantially the same plane whether the pump-tube be swung outward orin ward, the foot-tube G is provided with a loose collar, 00, to whichis connected a suspending bail or rod, W, that in turn is connected byachain or a series ofjointed rod-sections to a vibrating yoke, V, mountedupon the turn-table and connected by the rod U to the pump-tube, asshown in Fig. 2. As the pump-tube swings forward and backward thesesuspending devices so hold the tube G as to cause the excavating-tool towork insubstantially the same planeat all times.

On the rear portion of the turn-table D secured a slotted inclined loopor guide-plate,'l", (see Figs. 8 and 9,) back and forth within which isadapted to move a sliding plate, S. This sliding plate has pivoted toits under side, at R, a wedging-lever, Q, the rear or shorter end ofwhich is perforated and receives the downwardprojecting end of aweighted pilot-ball for shifting and holding the wedging-lever P,

mounted on an axis or pivotrunning longitudinally of the plate S, asshown in Figs. 4, S, and 9. As the sliding plate is moved back and forththe pilot-hall lever plays within the slot of the guide-plate T, as willappear from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 9.

Secured to the rear curved portion of the stationary frame-work G is asegmental rack, O, with the teeth of which the edging-lever Q of thesliding plate is adapted to engage when said plate is operated.

The operation of these last-described devices is as follows: \rVhen thepump-tube is swung backward by the operation of the crank the lower endof the slotted arm or K- shaped cam (marked Y is extended downward farenough, or the pump-tube itself strikes the inner end of the slidingplate S and pushes it forward and outward until its wedging-lever Qstrikes one of the teeth of the stationary rack-bar. If said arm orwedging-lever happen to be turned to the left, its inclined side willmeet the tooth, and while said inclined side travels along against itthe whole turn-table and the parts mounted on it will be moved to theleft the distance of one tooth. Then, upon the forward movement of thepump-tube, the sliding plate will slide back down'to its normalposition, the point of the wedging-lcver which was diagonally betweenthe two teeth of the rack yielding to the right to escape the showninFig. 7.

a large area. \Vhen it has reached its limit of movement to the left theweighted lever or pilot-ball P is shifted or turned over toward theother end of the slot S in the guide-plate in which it works, whichcauses the pivoted arm or \vedginglever Q to swing to the right; andwhen the slide or wedging-lever next advances the turn-table is made tomove to the right, and it so continues to move, step by step, till itreaches its other limit again, whereupon the pilot-ball is againshifted. The automatic turning of the turn-table is thus insured.

Special means may beemployed for shifting the weighted lever orpilot-ball automatically when the turn-table reaches the limit of itsmovement in either direction, or said weighted lever may beshifted byhand. Ordinarily the weight of the sliding plate and the weighted, leveris sufficient to bring the sliding plate back again to its normalposition after acting upon a tooth of the rack: but should it be deemedadvisable a cord or chain could be connected at one end to the slidingplate and the other end to the arm or K-shaped cam Y, so that when thepump-tubc moved outward the sliding plate S would be pulled backpositively to its normal position.

Other forms of mechanism than that herein shown and described may beemployed for feeding the turn-table by the operation of the pumotube,but perhaps nothing more simple or effective could be used than thatdescribed.

The excavating tool or hit H is preferably conoidalshaped, and hasexterior spirafcutting flanges or ribs diverging from the point, andslots it between said ribs opening into the interior of the hollow stemof the tool, as The said spiral ribs may, if desired, be armed withremovable cut-tingplates h.

The upper end of the pump-tubeis connected with a flexible tube or by aflexible jointed eXtension-pipe,N N, through which the material dredgedup is conducted and discharged, as desired, to fill, spread out, andelevate at anydistance from where it is taken.

In operating the apparatus the engine is started up, and through theconnections before referred to the propellers are caused rapidly torevolve, so as to create a powerful suetion and lifting within thepump-tube, while ing tube G, continued through, and discharged at theupper end of the pump-tube; or it may be continued by flexible or otherpipes to any distance for discharge. The slots in the excavating-toolare made of such size as to prevent the admission of anything throughthem thatv will not pass readily through thepump-tube and past thepropellers easily. If desired, removable steel cutting-blades maybeattached to the ribs of the tool, and as they wear they can be removedand replaced by like blades. Stones, bowlders, &c., that will not passthrough the tubes are thrown back and collected along under thereclaimer, so as to be taken up and removed from the rear end of theboat. The ma terial dredged up may be conveyed by the pipe N to bargesbrought alongside or behind the boat, and discharged into them; or itmay be conveyed along through said pipe and other pipes,NN,conneeted toit to the land which it is desired to build up or reclaim from thewater. A dike or sea-wall may easily be formed from the materialdischarged through the said rape-connections NN, as shown, simply usinga movable fence or guardway-partition with a suitable inclination andstrength to bear the end of the discharge pipe, from which the heaviermaterial fills easily against the guardway, the lighter parts flowingaway from it and keeping the earth, &c., l'rom flowing back under theboat. \Vheu the deposit is high enough the fence or guard can be movedalong with the advance of the boat for the purpose of prolonging thedike and work thereof.

\Vhen the reclaimer is used for swamp-ditching the material excavated,instead ot being piled up on the banks of the ditch, may be conveyed faraway through tubes and discharged upon low lands.

Vhiletheexcavating-tool and the pump eontin ue to operate thepump-tubeismoved forward and backward and to the right and left by the ggaztechanism before described, and the relative position or theexcavating-tool is always mainrained by the operation of the suspendingdevices, as hereinbetore set forth.

Thejoint, ankle-like, between the lower end of the pump-tube and theshittingfoot-tube G is of peculiar construction and deserves specialmention. It is best represented in Fig. 11. The lower end of thepump-tube is made rounding to give the column of excavated matter anatural turn into the vertical tube, and is cut away at top and bottomand at one side,leaving only a side wall or tiange, a, projecting outbeyond the. top and bottom, as shown. The

joint of the foot-tube with the vertical or pumping tube is preferably ahollow knucklejoint, though a hollow ball and socket may be used, ifdesired. A sleeve, 1), upon one end of which the foot-tube Gr rotates,is formed at its other end with circular side disks, b and otherwise isformed at the same end like a portion of a cylinder with a horizontalaxis, the side thereof at the sleeve end being open. The lower end ofthe pump-tube is formed to inclose the said cylindricallyt'ormed sleeveend to allow it a limited vertical swing, the portion b being alwaysconfined within the part a and the part b within the part a except when,it being desired to empty the foot-tube without pumping its contents upthrough the pump-tube, the foot-tube is swung up to its limit ofmovement and the part I) swings past the part a, exposing the lowerpart, b, of the open end of the sleeve, whereupon the contents of thefoottube readily flows out. The sides of the socket in the pum p-tubeare formed of circular disks, one of which may be fixed and the otherremovable, as cap 0. In the circular recesses of these side disks thelaterally-projecting disks (1 of the sleeve engage, holding the parts ofthejoiut together. If desired, central pintles, (1?, upon the side disksof the socket may project into and engage with central holes of the sidedisks. of the sleeve. Shoulders I) If upon the sleeve, meeting likeshoulders a a on the socket, limit the ver tical swing of the foottube.

In swamp-ditching and other work it is sometimes necessary to removeroots of trees and sunken logs belore the work can further proceed. Insuch cases the tube G may be raised and elevated high enough to allowthe excavating-tool to be removed and be replaced by the drilling andsawing tool, as shown in Fig. 10, which is a cylindrical barrel-saw witha drill-center bearing-point to hold in a leading position for sawing,which is done by the saw, in place of the excavating-tool, revolving andcutting its way through whatever it comes in contact with on ahorizontal line, and may be elevated or lowered by motion of tube G; orthe whole working apparatus and machinery may be elevated or lowered bybeing placed on a frame extending back with a hinge connection on a linewith the center of the driving-pulley of the engine, so as to keep thebelt fully adjusted between the pulley on the apparatus and thedriving-pulley of the engine, as may be understood by dotted showing inFig, 1. When this lastanentioned tool has perl'ormed its oflice it isremoved, and the freed obstruction is then, by means of a crane or othereontrivance, pulled up and taken out. The excavating-tool is then againsecured in position and the work proceeded with. When rocks or bowldersare met with that cannot be undermined and dropped below out of the waya rock-drill of any preferred form and kind may be substituted for theexcavating-tool and caused to penetrate the rock horizontally at itsbase, so as to admit a cartridge for exploding and blasting it, so thatit may be removed.

In order that the pump'tube may be ren (lei-ed controllable while eitherthe sawing-tool or rock-drill is in operation, the spur-gear whichdrives the mechanism for eliccting the oscillating ant'lcirculatingmotions ot'thepumptube may be detached.

The forward part of the boat is divided into two eompartments-namely, asmall lowereompartment, M, and a large upper compartment, Lthere beingno com munication between the two. The lower compartment, M, has anopening, K, Fig. 1, leading out through the side of the boat and adaptedto be opened and closed by a suitable valve or cut-ott. The uppercompartment, L, has an opening, J, likewise leading out through the sideof the boat, and closed also by a cut-01f. The stem or operating'arm lof this last-mentioned cut-oft is formed into IlO a pointer or index,and is adapted to be moved along a graduated scale, H, to indicate howfar open the cut-off is. This arrangement of compartments and theiraccessories is for the purpose of maintaining the boat at the properdistance from the bottom at all stages of the tide where the apparatusis used in tide-water. When the tide is rising-the first five inches,for instance-the valve in the lower compartment is opened and the wateris allowed to run in until said compartment is full. By the time it isfull the bow of the boat has been sunk about five inches. Then if thefull rise of the tide is known to he, say, three feet and five inches,the arm I of the cut-off in the upper compartment is swung around untilopposite the figure 3, or suitable place on the scale H, which movementopens the valve and allows the water to run into the upper compartmentas fast as required to sink the boat to keep it at the proper distancefrom the bottom while the tide is rising the remaining three feet. Whenthe tide begins to fall the cut-offs are all closed and the water isdrawn out of the lower compartment gradually by a pump, G, operated byhand or power to suit the falling of water outside. This gives buoyancyto the boat, raising the water in the upper compartment above theoutside water; so by openin g the scaled water-passage the dischargewill be with the falling tide, and, like the inflow, adjusting the boatand its appliances to the tides rising and falling. The maintenance ofthe boat in the proper position is thus effected by the in and out flowof water without the expenditure of anymore powerthan is required topump out the lowersmall compartment once each rise and fall of tide andto manipulate the cut-off.

It is sometimes desirable to elevate the bow of the boat or to ballastthe boat, and to enable this to be done I have divided the rear or sternof the boat into a number of small compartments, F, one above the other,or they may be otherwise, all of which are connected to a force-pump, E,and any one or more of which is capable of being filled full by saidpump and kept so byclosingacnt-off orvalves, D. In this way a stablewater-ballast of any amount is afforded, and the stern of the boat canbe depressed and the bow of the boat thrown up as high as desired. Thismatter of providing a ballast can be utilized in other than dredge-boatswith equal effect.

1 am aware that centrifugal pumps and others have been used. for liftingmud, sand, gravel, &c., and for dredging, in which valves, buckets, andclose-workin g parts are employed, being subject to great friction andwear, and narrow spaces and hard friction turns, causing much wearing ofparts, loss of power, and inability to pass large solid substances, andnot very large gravel can pass through the working parts of such pumps,and the contact in passing is very wearing on them. All such detrimentsI avoid by the direct forward mo tion given to the moving material. Theprocenter While propelled through the pipes and tubes they are passedthrough my pump with but little interruption or contact with thepropelling machinery. Pumps with propellers on shafts and centrifugalmachinery interrupt and breakthrough all the passing column, therebycausing very great wear of parts and friction, and necessarily requiremuch greater motive force or power.

I am aware that machinery for dredging has been used for taking up mudand conducting it through pipes or tubes to places of deposit, but withinterruptions by stoppages in dipping or scooping up, and alternateaction ofvalves in hydraulic machinery, centrifugal, steam vacuum, andother pumps, inelosed pressure and open elevated bins,with altitudes andforces to move the material through the tubes or pipes. Such machineswill not pass large gravel and bowlders through them, and such will notdo the work I wish to do.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A conoidal-shaped excavating-tool having spiral ribs or flanges, openslots between the flanges, with an open hollow shank, substantially asdescribed.

2. A conoidal-shaped excavating-tool having spiral ribs provided withcutting-edges, open slots within the ribs, and a hollow shank,substantially as described.

3. A centripetal lifting and suction pump consisting of the pump-tubehaving enlargements or swells for propellers, a rotary shaft extendingsolid or in sections from top to bottom, and a series of centripetalspiral propellers, open and unobstructed in their axial region, arrangedupon the shaft within the enlargements or connected in sections,substantially as described.

4. A spiral centripetal propeller open at its center throughout, mountedupon a shaft, as described, said shat't having at one end a squaredsocket to receive the squared end of the shaft of the next adjacentpropeller, whereby one section communicatcs motion to the series ofsections, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the pump-tube having the enlargements orswells, of a spiral centripetal propeller with shaft attachments forpumping purposes, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the pump-tube having an oscillating andcirculating movement, of a pump-shaft, a driving -shaft, and a universaljoint or flexible connection to communicate motion to propellers from afixed or stationary power, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a'shaft-with a flexible or universal joint at oneend, worm-gear IIO it's

at the other, and a rotary excavating-tool, for the purposes set forth,substantially as described.

S. The combination of a bevelgear wheel connected with a worm-gear withthe revolving foot tube or pipe, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a revolving foot tube or pipe with a leg pipe ortube, substantially as described, for conducting water and othermaterial to said pipe or tube.

10. The combination, with the foot and leg pipes or tubes, of the hollowknuckle-joint to afford continuous free open passage-way within andbetween said pipes or tubes, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the punip-tube having enlargements or swells andthe shaft-sections, each carrying a propeller at one end, and having itsother end squared to fit into a square recess on the end of the nextshaft-section, whereby the several sections are adapted to be fittedtogether within the tube, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the pump-tube having the enlargements or swells,the shaft-sections, each carrying a propeller at one end and having itsother end squared, and the abutments on the pumptube forming bearingsand supports for the propellers, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a suction-pump and a tube jointed to the lowerend of the pump tube, and carrying a rotary excavating-tool havingcutting-ribs, slots within the ribs, and a hollow shank opening intothejointed tube, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the pump-tube with the foot-tube carrying theexcavating-tool, and swiveled upon a sleeve which is connected to thepump-tube by a knuckle-joint and rotated by power derived from thepump-shaft, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the pump-tube, and the foottube carrying theexcavating-tool and provided with a fixed gear, and swiveled upon asleeve which is connected to the pump-tube by a hollow knuckle-joint,with the worm on the pump-shaft and the intermediate gear-wheel,substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the pump-tube and the foot-tube consisting ofthe neck which carries the excavatingtool and the hollow couplingcollar-block, of the sleeve swiveled to the foot-tube and jointed to thepump tube, substantially as described.

17. The combination,with the pump-tube, of the arm having the cam-slotand the operating-crank, whereby a slow graduated outward movement and aquick inward movement are given to excavating-tool, substantially asdescribed.

18. The combination of the swinging pumptube, carrying the rotaryexcavating-tool at its lower end, with the turn-table and mechanism setin operation by the swinging motion ofthc pump-tube, for automaticallymoving the turntable in either direction to change the position of theexcavating-tool, substantially as described.

19. The combination of the sliding plate on the turn-table, having thepivoted wedging-lever, with the rack on the stationary frame and the armon the swinging pump'tube, whereby the turn-table is automaticallyturned as the pump-tube is vibrated, substantially as described.

20. The combination, with the sliding plate on the turn-table and itspivoted wedging-lever, of the weighted pilot-ball lever for holding thewedging-leverin position, substantially as described.

21. The combination, with the foot-tube carrying the excavating-tool andconnected to the pump-tube by a hollow swh'el and knuckle joint, of themeans for suspending said foottube so as to keep the tube in the sameplane during all its forward, backward, and lateral movements,substantially as described.

22. The combination, with the foot-tube can ryingthe excavating-tool, ofthe loose collar on said tube, the suspending bail and chains or jointedrods, the vibrating yoke, and the rod connecting the yoke to theswinging pump tube, substantially as described.

23. The pump-tube provided with excavating mechanism, in combinationwith means for impartingto said tube a swinging forward-andbackwardmovement, and other means for turning it so as to give theexcavating-tool a circulating or lateral sweep, substantially asdescribed.

24. In a dredging-boat, the combination of the small lower compartmentand the large upper compartment, each compartment having an openingthrough the side of the boat, and valves for closing said openings, anda pump For emptying the lower compartment,\vhereby the position of theboat with respect to the bottom can be regulated with the rise and fallof tide by the regulated in and out ilow of water, substantially asdescribed.

25. The method herein described of main taining the boat at the properdistance from the bottom during the rise and fall of tide, consisting inallowing the water to flow in and fill a lower compartment, and thenlikewise permitting it to flow in through a gaged valve and fill anupper compartment while the tide is rising, then, when the tide beginsto fall, closing the valve of the lower compartment and pumping out thewater therefrom, so as to give buoy ancy to the boat and cause the waterto flow gradually out through the gaged opening of the uppercompartment, substantially as described.

26. The series of small water-tight compartments F at the stern of theboat and the pump for filling and exhausting the same, and the valvesfor cutting ott' communication with the pump, substantially asdescribed, whereby an economical and easily-controllable ballast isprovided.

27. The herein-described boat for dredging and ditching purposes, incombination with a centripetal propeller, suction and lifting pumpplaced and attached at thefore end ofthe boat, shifting on a rising andfalling frame-Work, as shown, and for the purpose substantiallydescribed.

28. A dredging and ditching boat made to sink and rise in flowing andebbing tides, combined with an osciliatingand circulatingpump having asuspended foot-tube carrying an excavating-tool for dredging outharbors, riverchannels, &c., to a uniform depth, as desired, in higheror lower stages of water, substantially as described.

29. A boat having engine power, with or with- JAMES P. HERRON.

Witnesses:

MELVILLE CHURCH, J. WATSON.

